Battery electric vehicles: Progress, power electronic converters, strength (S), weakness (W), opportunity (O), and threats (T)

The rely on internal combustion engines is gradually decreased with the recent evolution of electric vehicles (EVs) in the automotive industry. Electric motors are replacing the energy systems mainly to improve the powertrain's efficiency and ensure they are environmentally friendly. These novel powertrains are designed to operate solely on batteries or supercapacitors. For these types of EVs, the battery is charged using an alternating current supply in connection to the grid in the case of plug-in electric vehicles. Internal combustion engines are equally used for some hybrid vehicles. Charging of the battery can also be carried out via regenerative braking from the traction motor. This study presents a brief background about the different available EVs, detailed information on various power converter electronics used in battery electric vehicles, and a summary of the strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T) of the EV is presented. Moreover, SWOT analysis of the battery electric vehicles (BEV) and their prospects in the automotive industry are introduced

Large-vscale hydrogen production and storage technologies: Current status and future directions

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy on 13/11/2020, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.110 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Over the past years, hydrogen has been identified as the most promising carrier of clean energy. In a world that aims to replace fossil fuels to mitigate greenhouse emissions and address other environmental concerns, hydrogen generation technologies have become a main player in the energy mix. Since hydrogen is the main working medium in fuel cells and hydrogen-based energy storage systems, integrating these systems with other renewable energy systems is becoming very feasible. For example, the coupling of wind or solar systems hydrogen fuel cells as secondary energy sources is proven to enhance grid stability and secure the reliable energy supply for all times. The current demand for clean energy is unprecedented, and it seems that hydrogen can meet such demand only when produced and stored in large quantities. This paper presents an overview of the main hydrogen production and storage technologies, along with their challenges. They are presented to help identify technologies that have sufficient potential for large-scale energy applications that rely on hydrogen. Producing hydrogen from water and fossil fuels and storing it in underground formations are the best large-scale production and storage technologies. However, the local conditions of a specific region play a key role in determining the most suited production and storage methods, and there might be a need to combine multiple strategies together to allow a significant large-scale production and storage of hydrogen.Published versio

Guidelines for establishing water energy balance database – implementation barriers and recommendations

This study presents a set of guidelines for starting a water energy database (WEB). Implementing such a database helps decision-makers select appropriate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for the water sector. The proposed guidelines encompass various aspects of the database structure including static data, dynamics data, water production, energy consumption, and WEB. Data accuracy is vital for this Database; therefore, a coding system for water utilities is proposed to avoid confusion. Desktop validation and validation through site visits were performed to ensure data accuracy. Recommendations for site visits and data collection procedure were proposed to guarantee the best results. The study proposed techniques that were successfully implemented and tested in the Jordanian water sector

Dough mixing properties and white pita bread sensory characteristics as affected by salt reduction

In an attempt to reduce the salt intake from bread consumption while maintaining acceptable sensory bread characteristics, three treatments (NaCl, Ag-NaCl, and NaCl-KCl) each having five different salt levels were used to formulate fifteen versions of white pita bread. Results showed that decreasing salt levels significantly lowered dough stability and time to breakdown and increased the mixing tolerance index. Bread acceptability was independent of salt content; however, ratings on the Just-About-Right scale showed 0.9% NaCl as optimal salt level in bread. Breads with lower salt content had higher ratings for sweetness, yeasty odour, and flavour with decreased saltiness perception. Amount of 0.67% Ag-NaCl and 1.13% NaCl-KCl were needed to achieve an equivalent saltiness to 0.9% NaCl, suggesting a respective 25.6% and 12.1% sodium reduction without compromising taste. Results suggested that a 60% sodium reduction in white pita bread was achieved with acceptable mixing and sensory characteristics

Redox Flow Batteries: Recent Development in Main Components, Emerging Technologies, Diagnostic Techniques, Large-Scale Applications, and Challenges and Barriers

Redox flow batteries represent a captivating class of electrochemical energy systems that are gaining prominence in large-scale storage applications. These batteries offer remarkable scalability, flexible operation, extended cycling life, and moderate maintenance costs. The fundamental operation and structure of these batteries revolve around the flow of an electrolyte, which facilitates energy conversion and storage. Notably, the power and energy capacities can be independently designed, allowing for the conversion of chemical energy from input fuel into electricity at working electrodes, resembling the functioning of fuel cells. This work provides a comprehensive overview of the components, advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of redox flow batteries (RFBs). Moreover, it explores various diagnostic techniques employed in analyzing flow batteries. The discussion encompasses the utilization of RFBs for large-scale energy storage applications and summarizes the engineering design aspects related to these batteries. Additionally, this study delves into emerging technologies, applications, and challenges in the realm of redox flow batteries